Lydia Ko recently won a gold medal in golf at Le Golf National, showing exceptional skill and focus on accuracy over distance. While gold-medalist Scottie Scheffler received congratulations from TaylorMade, Ko did not due to her status as an equipment free agent playing Ping and Titleist gear. Ko’s equipment setup includes nine Ping clubs, including a G430 Max 10K driver, which played a crucial role in her victory.
The G430 Max 10K driver is PING’s straightest and highest MOI driver to date, providing maximum forgiveness and optimal center of gravity. Despite spinning slightly more than the LST model, the 10K driver offers incredible stability and straight ball flight. During testing, Ko achieved impressive results, with consistent spin rates across the face even on mishits, allowing her to focus on accuracy rather than distance.
Ko’s experience with the G430 Max 10K driver aligns with what GOLF.com’s gear team observed during robotic testing, highlighting the driver’s stability on toe strikes and low center strikes. On a geometric center strike, the driver produced optimal launch and spin numbers, even when impact location was lowered. The tight launch and spin deltas on mishits mimic numbers seen on center strikes, contributing to a winning equipment formula for Ko.
The success of the G430 Max 10K driver played a significant role in Ko’s victory and highlights the importance of precise equipment choices for professional golfers. The driver’s stability, forgiveness, and consistency on mishits allowed Ko to focus on her game and achieve her dream of winning a gold medal in golf. For golfers looking to overhaul their bags in 2024, finding a fitting location like True Spec Golf can help optimize equipment choices for better performance on the course. Jonathan Wall, Golf.com’s Managing Editor for Equipment, provides valuable insights on equipment choices and their impact on player performance.
